While abortion is generally considered a fairly safe procedure when performed by a trained medical professional, there are some common abortion problems that women may experience after the procedure. These problems can vary depending on the type of abortion performed and at what point in the pregnancy it is done. Medical abortions, where drugs are used to terminate the pregnancy, typically cause moderate to heavy bleeding and cramping, and many women also have flu-like symptoms such as headache, nausea, and chills. Women who have surgical abortions can also expect to have bleeding for a period of time, plus issues like cramping, nausea, and sometimes feelings of faintness after the procedure. The later the abortion is performed during the pregnancy, the higher the likelihood of more severe complications like uterine perforation, infection, or incomplete removal of tissue from the uterus.

Ending a pregnancy through the use of drugs like mifepristone, methotrexate, and misoprostol can lead to certain common abortion problems. While all women who have this procedure will have a certain amount of bleeding, it may be heavier for some and accompanied by painful cramping. It is also fairly common, within the first day or so after the drugs are administered, for the patient to feel symptoms similar to having a cold or the flu; headache, gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or diarrhea, and fever with accompanying aches, chills, and fatigue can all occur.

Many women experience some mild to moderate abortion problems from surgical procedures as well. As with medical abortions, many women will have fairly heavy bleeding and uterine cramping for some time, from days to weeks. It is not uncommon for women to feel sweaty, faint, or dizzy shortly after the procedure is done. They may also experience feelings of nausea for a period afterward.

The potential for serious abortion problems increases with the length of the pregnancy at the time of the procedure. There is a greater chance that the cervix or uterus will be damaged while the abortion is being done. Women are more likely to hemorrhage or get blood clots, and they are also more susceptible to infection after they have the procedure done. Another problem that happens more frequently with a late abortion is that some of the products of conception are left behind in the uterus, which may then require the woman to have a second procedure to completely clear them.

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Ruggercat68Post 2

I knew a girl in college who tried to trap her boyfriend into marriage by deliberately getting pregnant. It didn't work. He realized she was willing to do anything to manipulate their relationship, so he paid for her first abortion. When it happened again, she borrowed the money from a sympathetic relative. Thankfully, the boyfriend finally ended the relationship after several more months.

I was concerned for this girl, since she was obviously troubled and obsessed with the idea of marriage. I found out she married twice after graduating from college, and that she was now the mother of two young, healthy girls. The physical effects of those two abortions did not permanently affect her ability to carry a child full-term.

PhaedrusPost 1

I agree with the article as far as medical problems with abortion are concerned, but I'd like to see more about emotional problems as well. I've known several women who have had abortions, and they told me that the procedure itself was painful, but they recovered fairly quickly. Their real problems didn't start until a few weeks later, when other people found out about their decisions. One woman told me many of her family members refused to talk to her for a long time, and another said she had to take anti-anxiety medications in order to avoid panic attacks. I'm still pro-choice about abortion, but I think all aspects of the procedure need to brought out into the open.

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